Mum’s right to end daughter’s life

A 324-WORD statement convinced a High Court judge in the UK to create legal history and grant a mother the right to terminate her severely disabled daughter’s life. Nancy Fitzmaurice, born blind with hydrocephalus, meningitis and septicaemia, could not walk, talk, eat or drink, the Mirror reported.
Her health was so poor she required 24-hour care and was fed, watered and medicated by tube at London’s Great Ormand Street Hospital. Her health deteriorated and as she grew she would scream in agony for hours despite being given morphine and ketamine.

Her mother, Charlotte Fitzmaurice Wise, knew the pain her daughter was suffering was too much for the 12-year-old to bear. She deserved to be at peace and had the right to die, knew her heartbroken mother, who had given up work as a nurse to be with her.

Fitzmaurice Wise’s 324-word statement, detailing why Nancy should be allowed to die, was read out by Justice Eleanor King at the High Court of Justice. Her stance was backed by Nancy’s father David Wise and the world-renowned hospital.
“My daughter is no longer my daughter, she is now merely just a shell.
“The light from her eyes is now gone and is replaced with fear and a longing to be at peace.
“Today I am appealing to you for Nancy as I truly believe she has endured enough. For me to say that breaks my heart.
“But I have to say it.”

"It killed me there was nothing I could do to help her" ... Nancy Fitzmaurice Wise's devoted mother Charlotte who won the legal right to terminate her life: Picture: Charlotte Fitzmaurice Wise Source: Facebook

Her application was granted immediately, setting a precedent. It is the first time a child breathing on her own, not on life support and not suffering a terminal illness has been allowed to die in the UK.
“The love, devotion and competence of her mother are apparent. In her own closed world she has had some quality of life. Sadly that is not the case now,” Justice King said in summing up, Metro reported.
Nancy died 14 days later at Great Ormond Street Hospital with her family around her after fluids were withdrawn.
“She was screaming and writhing in agony 24 hours a day. Not being able to ease her suffering was too much to bear,” Charlotte told the Mirror.
“She wasn’t my angelic child any more, she was a shell. I wanted beautiful ­memories of Nancy, not soul-crushing ones.
“After a whole weekend of her screaming in agony, I decided I wasn’t going to watch my little girl suffer any more.
“There was no way I was going to let her stay in extreme pain for months.
“It killed me there was nothing I could do to help her. All the nurses were in tears as they saw her screaming.
“All I wanted was for my daughter to die with dignity with me holding her hand.”
Nancy died 14 days after the High Court ruling at Great Ormond Street Hospital with her family around her after fluids were withdrawn.